Hunting with air rifle, which .177 or .22 ?

[Tampon]

MK4 Slowride said:

Tampon said:

Fume Troll said:

Agreed, go for hollowpoints (but don't then plan on eating what you kill).

Cheers,

FT.

No eating, why, is the bunny destroyed ?

Not to much of a problem, I would be taking most of them out at my rugby club, they keep digging up the pitches.

I want to come along!

Where abouts are you?

I'll bring my pistols.

Edited by MK4 Slowride on Tuesday 10th June 11:42

Surrey, in Weybridge, if you fancy it I can let you know when we are going, there are tons of the buggers, and it is a lovely place to be ( on a island on the middle of the Thames ). Also there is the clubhouse which we can use liberally

[911motorsport]

How easily you all discuss the killing (or more likely maming) of innocent creatures

[MK4 Slowride]

Tampon said:

MK4 Slowride said:

Tampon said:

Fume Troll said:

Agreed, go for hollowpoints (but don't then plan on eating what you kill).

Cheers,

FT.

No eating, why, is the bunny destroyed ?

Not to much of a problem, I would be taking most of them out at my rugby club, they keep digging up the pitches.

I want to come along!

Where abouts are you?

I'll bring my pistols.

Edited by MK4 Slowride on Tuesday 10th June 11:42

Surrey, in Weybridge, if you fancy it I can let you know when we are going, there are tons of the buggers, and it is a lovely place to be ( on a island on the middle of the Thames ). Also there is the clubhouse which we can use liberally

Cool, I could be up for that so long as no cars are being launched. I've got family down in Surrey (Worplesdon) so could combine a visit to them as well.

[dern]

Fume Troll said:

Agreed, go for hollowpoints (but don't then plan on eating what you kill).

That would be a massive waste.

[Mutt]

911motorsport said:

How easily you all discuss the killing (or more likely maming) of innocent creatures

Almost as easily as you mount your high horse on a subject you know nothing about.

[Fume Troll]

dern said:

Fume Troll said:

Agreed, go for hollowpoints (but don't then plan on eating what you kill).

That would be a massive waste.

I find too many bits of pellet using hollowpoints. If I wanted to eat the thing I'd be using a .22 rimfire, not an air rifle. Just my opinion.

Cheers,

FT.

[Tampon]

911motorsport said:

How easily you all discuss the killing (or more likely maming) of innocent creatures

How else would yo get rid of loads of rabbits ( 100's of them ) that are digging up the training pitch and the junior rugby pitch making holes big enough to have sprained my ankle and broken a props ankle so far last season ?

Ask them to leave ? put a incentive plan together ?

I don't want to hurt them, just want to limit the number of them, no rabbits at all would be bad, but the level they are at at the moment are too much for them and the club to live happily together.

Unfortunately the best way to get rid of them and have a bit of time outdoors with my friends, learn some new skills is to shot them in the head with a air rifle.

I have to say that lots of animals are killed every day, cows chickens and pigs, now I don't have a problem with any of that, and as far as I am aware they weren't guilty of anything other than being tasty ? I also don't have a problem killing a rabbit myself.

So thanks for you very judgemental opinion but it has no effect on me other than think less of you ( you were kind enough to give us feedback on our posts so i thought you would like some back on yours )

[Plotloss]

.20 for bunnies isnt it?

Do they even make .20 anymore? Prometheus used to do .20 pellets but this was some time ago, admittedly.

[dern]

Fume Troll said:

dern said:

Fume Troll said:

Agreed, go for hollowpoints (but don't then plan on eating what you kill).

That would be a massive waste.

I find too many bits of pellet using hollowpoints. If I wanted to eat the thing I'd be using a .22 rimfire, not an air rifle. Just my opinion.

I wasn't disputing that... just saying that it would be a huge waste of a very tasty dinner. I only started eating meat a year ago after 20 years and rabbit has become pretty much my favourite

Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th June 12:03

[SpydieNut]

911motorsport said:

How easily you all discuss the killing (or more likely maming) of innocent creatures

do me a favour - leave off the knee-jerk, bleeding heart reaction.

if you're vegetarian then that's your choice. if not , you're a hypocrite (as long as someone else kills the meat you eat, it's nothing to do with you)

and, for the humane culling of these pests, it takes skill and patience. it also is worthwhile asking around - learning before you shoot, so you don't just end up maiming them.

1 shot 1 kill should be what you get.

ETA - shooting them is one of the least time-efficient ways of culling. the most time-effective is gassing them in their burrows. i don't think that's a very nice way to go - so i use the air rifle.

Edited by SpydieNut on Tuesday 10th June 12:05

[10 Pence Short]

Go bagging with ferrets instead.

[Mutt]

Furthemore, the whole point of this thread is to discuss what is the most humane way of pest control.

Judgmental antis make my wee boil

[Sicob]

.22 is usually the preferred option. but as has been said here, range wise with 12ft/lbs limit, the .22 muzzle velocity is less, because the weight of the projectile is more. hence I would hunt up to 40yrds with .22. .177 with higher muzzle velocity but lighter projectile could theoretically make a kill further, but hunters often consider the weight of .177 insufficient for clean kills on larger of the small game i.e bunny's. More for birds really.

Personally I'd stick to .22. If you have firearms certificate, and wish to use high powered airweapon, then .25 is the best option, and obviously with the extra range allowed by the greater muzzle velocity of FOC weapon you can extend your hunting range somewhat. Personally .22 rimfire silenced if using FOC is what I have used previously, and prefer.

[Tampon]

dern said:

Fume Troll said:

dern said:

Fume Troll said:

Agreed, go for hollowpoints (but don't then plan on eating what you kill).

That would be a massive waste.

I find too many bits of pellet using hollowpoints. If I wanted to eat the thing I'd be using a .22 rimfire, not an air rifle. Just my opinion.

I wasn't disputing that... just saying that it would be a huge waste of a very tasty dinner. I only started eating meat a year ago after 20 years and rabbit has become pretty much my favourite

Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th June 12:03

The best thing about all of this is any of the rabbits we get we will gut and then freeze in the clubs massive chest freezers and then the chef can use them when we have a big old lunch ( probably have 6-8 of them a season whith about 50-60 people so they won't be wasted ) unfortunately I will be having the crap kicked out of me as the old boys and sponsors pay to watch it, whilst eating the food I gathered.

[Tampon]

Sicob said:

.22 is usually the preferred option. but as has been said here, range wise with 12ft/lbs limit, the .22 muzzle velocity is less, because the weight of the projectile is more. hence I would hunt up to 40yrds with .22. .177 with higher muzzle velocity but lighter projectile could theoretically make a kill further, but hunters often consider the weight of .177 insufficient for clean kills on larger of the small game i.e bunny's. More for birds really.

Personally I'd stick to .22. If you have firearms certificate, and wish to use high powered airweapon, then .25 is the best option, and obviously with the extra range allowed by the greater muzzle velocity of FOC weapon you can extend your hunting range somewhat. Personally .22 rimfire silenced if using FOC is what I have used previously, and prefer.

Don't fancy getting a firearms licence at the moment, would a silencer really make much of a difference on a air rifle ?

[911motorsport]

Mutt said:

911motorsport said:

How easily you all discuss the killing (or more likely maming) of innocent creatures

Almost as easily as you mount your high horse on a subject you know nothing about.

I wouldn't dare, you'd only shoot it

[Mutt]

911motorsport said:

Mutt said:

911motorsport said:

How easily you all discuss the killing (or more likely maming) of innocent creatures

Almost as easily as you mount your high horse on a subject you know nothing about.

I wouldn't dare, you'd only shoot it

Touche.

And no, obviously I wouldn't shoot a horse.

[Yertis]

MK4 Slowride said:

I'd got for .177 as iirc you get better range although the .22 has a harder punch.

I've had/own a load of air guns and would say my old favourite is the BSA Supersport .177 you could get on for about £100 with a 40x400 telescopic sight.

I'm in the market for one of these with a scope and it's more like £250.

[JayBM]

Tampon said:

Sicob said:

.22 is usually the preferred option. but as has been said here, range wise with 12ft/lbs limit, the .22 muzzle velocity is less, because the weight of the projectile is more. hence I would hunt up to 40yrds with .22. .177 with higher muzzle velocity but lighter projectile could theoretically make a kill further, but hunters often consider the weight of .177 insufficient for clean kills on larger of the small game i.e bunny's. More for birds really.

Personally I'd stick to .22. If you have firearms certificate, and wish to use high powered airweapon, then .25 is the best option, and obviously with the extra range allowed by the greater muzzle velocity of FOC weapon you can extend your hunting range somewhat. Personally .22 rimfire silenced if using FOC is what I have used previously, and prefer.

Don't fancy getting a firearms licence at the moment, would a silencer really make much of a difference on a air rifle ?

A silencer makes a huge difference. I've currently got a .22 BSA Ultra; without the silencer there is a very noticeable "crack", with the standard silencer the "crack" is reduced but is still audible at 20m. With the Logun silencer fitted the rifle is virtually silent at anything more than 5m! Which should you miss with the first shot normally allows a 2nd shot

Edited by JayBM on Tuesday 10th June 12:19

[Maxf]

Probably most effective and humaine would be to gas them. Shooting will only kill the fit rabbit above ground - chances of getting them all are very slim.